Durin's Diary

A guard had opened the door for his master, who, upon hearing of the misfortune, had put aside all official duties to come here, just to see his grandson.

On the way, he had heard much bad news, such as his beloved grandson encountering a Mutant, and that his grandson had suffered serious injuries, and was still in a coma. But the reality seemed to provoke even greater concern.

This meeting wouldn't be the last, would it?

"My grandson still hasn't woken up?"

Removing his coat and handing it to the centaur butler, Yishu Ailish looked at the medical team bustling up and down the stairs and asked with a grave tone.

He was a silver-haired elf from the Grassland Elves, untouched by the passing years, his youthful appearance betrayed only by his left hand clutching his right wrist where an old injury had flared up as if to remind its owner of its ferocity at this moment.

"The church's bishop is treating him. When the young master was brought back, he had many fractures, but apparently, there's nothing life-threatening," the aged centaur butler said as he hung up his old master's coat on a nearby rack, then pointed to a girl on the sofa, "Master, Miss Antanya from the Aye Family has been sitting there since the beginning. I've already fended off one group of Aye servants who came to fetch her, but..."

"Leave her to me," Yishu said, turning to look at the doorway.

His old butler, after all, was no match for that madwoman.

Outside the door stood an elven woman, hesitating noticeably, as clearly, the presence of Yishu, the master of this house, contradicted the intelligence she had received. She didn't quite understand why Duke Yishu, who was supposed to be in the capital realm of the Central Province, would suddenly return to his ancestral home.

Had she forgotten that the old man before her was a legendary magician?

"Lady Ralph of the Aye Family, there is a snowstorm outside; please come in," Yishu said with a smile, extending the courtesy expected of a host.

In the adult world, face is mutually given, and so the lady walked in from the snowstorm, her head bowed, addressing the master of the house, "Lord Yishu, I've come for my daughter."

"I won't leave until Durin wakes up," the girl sitting on the sofa asserted her stubbornness.

Yishu shook his head with a smile, "Madam, did you hear that?"

"I heard it, but an unmarried young lady of the Grassland Elves ultimately cannot spend the night outside her home."

"Since when is my old home considered 'outside' in the town of Lublin?" Yishu sighed, waving his hand, "Madam, for my sake, let the child stay for the night. Tomorrow, you can take her back, in one piece."

The mother, grinding her teeth, finally agreed with a "fine."

Yishu smiled, extended his hand, and gestured, "Madam, please go back."

The half-elf lady left without looking back.

Watching her leave the courtyard, Yishu then turned and approached the girl, "Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Yishu had received the message while resting in the Council's meeting room; the news brought by the urgent messenger had devastated the old man.

The girl before him recounted in detail their discovery of the monster and the process of defeating it; hearing how his grandson had not been cowardly but had, like a warrior, drawn the Mutant's attention to allow more children to escape, Yishu felt pain but also pride.

Durin often said that when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up—he had done it today. To act as one says is a fine trait of the Ailish family.

Then he turned back to the girl before him. What fine feelings, Yishu thought, as he extended his hand to gently stroke the child's head in an elder's gesture of affection.

"I understand now, you did nothing wrong. Durin will be alright," Yishu withheld the words he did not speak aloud.

There will always be a room for you in the Ailish family.

That sentence should have been said by my own grandson.

No matter what the future holds, it would be wonderful if the two kids could really come together.

After comforting the girl before him, Yishu heard a greeting from behind. He turned around to see his old friend descending from the upstairs, dressed as always in the temple's robe.

"Old friend, I'm happy to see you looking well," he said.

"Likewise, Yishu, it's been a long time."

The pleasantries between old friends stopped there as Yishu's gaze shifted upward slightly.

Without a word, his old friend raised his eyebrows, "Durin's luck is better than I imagined. A broken limb is not a big deal, but the most dangerous of the three fractured ribs had pierced his lung. However, on the way back, the fractured bones miraculously realigned themselves. We've managed the internal bleeding and completed the repair. When he wakes up is now up to him."

There were some things his old friend did not say, mainly because there were too many eyes and ears around, a fact Yishu was well aware of. So he gestured for his friend to follow him into his study.

Once in the secure room, with the Silent Barrier activated, the smile on his old friend's face disappeared. He took a cigarette from the box Yishu passed him, lit it, and inhaled deeply. Between puffs of smoke, he stared intently at Yishu, "It's a bit uncanny, old friend. Had I not been a witness myself, considering Durin's condition along the way, elsewhere among humans, he would have already been put on the pyre."

You know, Durin's mother and grandmother are quite special," Yishu said calmly, smiling: "That's exactly why I felt safe letting you come because you had witnessed the ceremony."

"I know, your seventh child is conceived with the Dragonkind of the Eastern Lands, I've seen it. The supernatural abilities Lili displayed since childhood are different from the bloodline of the Dragonkind in the Western Lands from your family. She is different from her sisters, and among her three children, only Durin has inherited the bloodline she carries. But the issue is, I saw with my own eyes the broken bones wriggling back into place under Durin's skin. I wonder what other secrets this kid from your family is hiding," said his old friend, taking another drag, the bishop's face riddled with confusion.

"As far as I know, the only and most significant secret should be the blessing from the Prime Creator," Yishu responded, tracing the Holy Insignia of the Prime Creator over his chest: "How much strength his grandmother passed on to him, I am not aware."

This was a believer swearing an oath.

"... Alright then, may the Lord bless Durin, may he save this pitiful child." His old friend also traced the insignia of the Prime Creator over his chest, and then, the old smoker took another drag, "You don't have to worry about Durin's injuries. The Dragonkind from the Eastern Lands do possess the supernatural ability to heal their wounds. Perhaps this injury might have triggered that ability. At least, that's what I will report. As for whether the higher-ups will believe it or not..." "That's my issue to handle. I will take care of the communication with them. Durin has had a rough life, and this time too, it's thanks to you," Yishu interjected, picking up a cigarette from the box, putting it to his lips, and then snapping his fingers to light it with a flicker of flame from his fingertip.

"All these years, the Changtangian shipping fleets have been coming and going at the Eternal Fortress, and their caravans trod back and forth in Lublin. Haven't you ever thought of asking about her background?"

"She's long gone, what's the point in asking now? To find a relative across the sky, only to have them take Durin away from my side," Yishu said, taking a drag on his cigarette, then falling silent.

"That's true. I've heard that the Dragonkind from the Eastern Lands take great interest in the boys carrying their blood. It wouldn't be good if they learned about some things." After a moment's hesitation, Yishu's peer added, "By the way, what about that Mutant? We haven't located the source of the Origin Force it excreted, which isn't a good thing. I've scanned Durin, and it hasn't attached to him—that's a relief. But you'd better be vigilant. The Origin Force from a Revived Corpse... you wouldn't want any unfortunate child from any family to absorb it."

"I've already arranged for the guards to track down the Origin Force of the Revived Corpse. Indeed, it's not a good thing, but the problem is that nobody at the scene noticed it," Yishu said, frowning even more upon hearing his friend.

But his old friend patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it. As long as it hasn't attached itself to a child, there's no problem. Perhaps after the mutation, the Origin Force was contaminated and has lost its effect. Now that Durin is out of danger, I must be leaving. I apologize, Yishu, tonight is the night of the sermon."

"I'm very grateful that you could come, old friend. Take care on your way," Yishu responded.

Yishu escorted his old friend to the gate and watched as he boarded the church's carriage, waiting until the vehicle was out of sight before returning inside the small building.

Antanya of the Aye family was still sitting there, the medical team still organizing their equipment. Yishu gave a knowing look to the high-hoofed butler, who promptly gestured to the maids to prepare the room specifically for him.

Yishu took a couple more drags from his cigarette, then looked up at the painting at the turn of the stairs before stubbing it out in the ashtray by the door.